Nebulized Scopolamine for Motion Sickness

Overseen by Jay Buckey, MD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Recruiting

Sponsor: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Must not be taking: Intranasal medications

Disqualifiers: Drug allergies, Tobacco, Gastrointestinal disorders, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing a new way to give anti-motion sickness medicine by spraying it into the nose. It targets people who get motion sickness and aims to provide faster relief by allowing quick absorption through the nasal tissues.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, you will need to stop taking any medications at least one week before starting the study.

Is nebulized scopolamine an effective drug for treating motion sickness?

Research shows that scopolamine, when used in different forms like nasal spray and transdermal patch, effectively reduces motion sickness symptoms. These studies suggest that scopolamine is a reliable option for treating motion sickness, with fast action and good safety profile. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is nebulized scopolamine safe for humans?

Scopolamine, in various forms like nasal spray and gel, has been studied for motion sickness and found to be safe with no serious side effects reported. It has been used successfully for many years, and studies show it is well-tolerated in humans. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

How does nebulized scopolamine differ from other motion sickness drugs?

Nebulized scopolamine is unique because it is administered through inhalation, which may offer a faster onset of action compared to oral or transdermal forms. This method could potentially provide quicker relief from motion sickness symptoms. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Research Team

Jay Buckey, MD

Principal Investigator

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Eligibility Criteria

Adults aged 21-49 in good health, with normal weight and organ function, can join this trial. They must not have used investigational drugs recently, smoked tobacco within a year, or lost significant blood lately. Pregnant women and those on certain medications or with specific medical conditions like respiratory issues or drug allergies are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

, is required for all study participants The study participants need to be in good health, as determined by their verbal medical history.

My weight is normal for my height.

My kidney and liver functions are normal.

Exclusion Criteria

I am allergic to scopolamine or similar medications.

I have a significant condition like Crohn's, asthma, or glaucoma.

Consumption of grapefruit juice within 7 days of scopolamine (SCOP) administration

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive doses of Scopolamine and placebo via intranasal nebulizer, with each dose administered 1 week apart

3 weeks

3 visits (in-person)

Pharmacokinetic Assessment

Pharmacokinetics of scopolamine are measured using LC-MS assay

180 minutes

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for side effects and effectiveness in reducing motion sickness

1 week

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Placebo (Other)
• Scopolamine (Anticholinergic)

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of delivering Scopolamine through an intranasal nebulizer to prevent motion sickness compared to a placebo (a treatment with no active drug). Participants will receive either the real medication or placebo without knowing which one they're getting.

Participant Groups

Group I: Pharmacokinetic Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants receive 1 dose of Scopolamine 0.4 mg delivered via a intranasal nebulizer developed by Creare LLC.

Group II: Chair Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants receive 1 dose of Scopolamine 0.2 mg, 1 dose of Scopolamine 0.4 mg, and 1 dose of placebo saline delivered via the Creare LLC intranasal nebulizer. These dosages are all 1 week apart and the order is randomized.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

548

Recruited

2,545,000+

Jonathan T. Huntington

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Chief Medical Officer since 2024

MD, PhD, MPH

Joanne M. Conroy

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Chief Executive Officer since 2017

MD from Medical University of South Carolina

Findings from Research

A new formulation of scopolamine nasal spray was found to be effective in treating motion sickness, significantly reducing seasickness scores compared to placebo and dimenhydrinate in a study involving a randomized, double-blind, crossover design.

The nasal spray demonstrated a fast onset of action within 30 minutes and showed no signs of nasal or epipharyngeal irritation, indicating it is a safe and well-tolerated option for motion sickness treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Scopolamine nasal spray in motion sickness: a randomised, controlled, and crossover study for the comparison of two scopolamine nasal sprays with oral dimenhydrinate and placebo. Klöcker, N., Hanschke, W., Toussaint, S., et al.[2019]

Transdermal scopolamine significantly reduces motion-induced nausea, achieving a motion sickness incidence of only 16% in a study of 35 susceptible subjects, compared to 32% with oral dimenhydrinate and 59% with placebo.

The transdermal system provides sustained relief for up to 72 hours, offering advantages over oral or intramuscular administration, especially during gastrointestinal distress, and resulting in a 73% protection rate against motion sickness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of transdermally administered scopolamine in preventing motion sickness. McCauley, ME., Royal, JW., Shaw, JE., et al.[2018]

The novel in situ gel formulation of scopolamine hydrobromide (SCOP) for nasal delivery was found to be safe, showing no nasal ciliotoxicity, and demonstrated prolonged residence time in the nasal cavity compared to traditional methods.

In a study involving rats, the intranasal SCOP gel significantly reduced motion sickness symptoms more effectively than subcutaneous and oral administration, indicating its potential as a superior treatment option.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preparation of ion-activated in situ gel systems of scopolamine hydrobromide and evaluation of its antimotion sickness efficacy. Cao, SL., Zhang, QZ., Jiang, XG.[2022]

Intranasal scopolamine gel (INSCOP) was tested in a study with 12 healthy subjects and showed dose-linear pharmacokinetics, meaning that higher doses led to proportionally higher drug levels in the blood.

All doses of INSCOP were well tolerated with no serious side effects, indicating that it is a fast, reliable, and safe alternative for treating space motion sickness compared to traditional methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dose escalation pharmacokinetics of intranasal scopolamine gel formulation. Wu, L., Boyd, JL., Daniels, V., et al.[2018]

Intranasal scopolamine (INSCOP) significantly improved tolerance to motion sickness in 16 susceptible subjects, allowing them to endure more head movements compared to a placebo, indicating its efficacy as a treatment.

The intranasal formulation was absorbed rapidly, reaching measurable plasma levels within 15 minutes, and did not cause significant cognitive or sedative side effects, making it a safe alternative for motion sickness prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The efficacy of low-dose intranasal scopolamine for motion sickness. Simmons, RG., Phillips, JB., Lojewski, RA., et al.[2019]

In a study involving eight male students, transdermal scopolamine was found to be effective in reducing motion sickness symptoms, with a 63% efficacy rate, while oral scopolamine had a detrimental effect.

Promethazine combined with ephedrine was the most effective treatment, showing an 86% efficacy, suggesting that while scopolamine is beneficial, other combinations may offer superior results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevention of experimental motion sickness by scopolamine absorbed through the skin. Graybiel, A., Knepton, J., Shaw, J.[2018]

Transdermal scopolamine (Transderm-Scop) is effective for preventing motion sickness and has a lower risk of central nervous system (CNS) side effects compared to oral scopolamine, making it a safer option for many users.

However, CNS side effects can still occur, particularly in elderly patients or those with certain preexisting conditions, and diagnosing these side effects can be challenging due to the patch's location and delayed symptom onset.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Transdermal scopolamine-induced psychosis. Ziskind, AA.[2019]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Scopolamine nasal spray in motion sickness: a randomised, controlled, and crossover study for the comparison of two scopolamine nasal sprays with oral dimenhydrinate and placebo. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of transdermally administered scopolamine in preventing motion sickness. [2018]

3. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Prevention of motion sickness with a transdermal therapeutic system containing scopolamine. A randomized, comparative double-blind study in the German Federal Navy]. [2018]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preparation of ion-activated in situ gel systems of scopolamine hydrobromide and evaluation of its antimotion sickness efficacy. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dose escalation pharmacokinetics of intranasal scopolamine gel formulation. [2018]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The efficacy of low-dose intranasal scopolamine for motion sickness. [2019]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevention of experimental motion sickness by scopolamine absorbed through the skin. [2018]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Transdermal scopolamine-induced psychosis. [2019]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relative efficacy of the proposed Space Shuttle antimotion sickness medications. [2019]